As God’s grace grows in us, we are aware that sin is also present.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The owner’s workers came to him and asked, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’ “He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’ “His workers asked him, ‘Do you want us to pull out the weeds?’ “He replied, ‘No. If you pull out the weeds, you may pull out the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I’ll have them bring the wheat into my barn.'”
Matthew 13:27-30 God’s Word to the Nations

Shrine Pass, Colorado

Standing next to these Indian Paintbrush are thistles gone to seed. I could have eliminated these thistles from the picture either by pulling them from of the ground or photoshopping them out of the picture, but that would not be a true depiction of what I saw, nor communicate the story these plants tell.

Weeds and flowers grow together much like the wheat and the the weeds in Jesus’ parable.

Preaching or teaching this parable usually involves the interpretation that in this world the remnant of God’s people will grow along side of those who reject his reign, but let me give you something else to think about.

As I look at this picture it tells a story of what I see happening inside of me as well as what is happening in the world. Growing inside of me are both the flower of God’s grace and weeds of sin. I long for the owner’s workers to root out the weeds and leave the flower. I’m tired of wrestling with the weeds, and I know that some of you are aching for the weeds to disappear.

The promise of this parable is that the day will come when God will pull the weeds from our lives. This promise will be realized when Jesus reigns with power for eternity.

So, how do we live with the weeds today? Let me give you two suggestions.

1) Keep your eyes focused on the promise that God will pull the weeds on the day of Christ’s return. See this promise not as wish, but a future reality.

2) Enjoy the beauty of God’s flower of grace today rather than fret about the weeds of sin. Christ has already won the battle of weed control.

The beauty of this flower of grace is that even today God is dealing with the weeds that surround it. Though there will be weeds in our lives, God’s grace in Christ IS addressing the pain these weeds cause.

Copyright Douglas P. Brauner